
fl: 



««iu*y 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

BULLETIN No. 488 




JU9"€WL 



Joint Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 

WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief, and the Bureau of 

Animal Industry, A. D. MELVIN, Chief 




ivrr^ 



Washington, D. C. 



February 26, 1917 



EXPERIMENTS IN THE DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED 
CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 1 

By James A. Holden, Assistant, Office of Western Irrigation Agriculture. 
In cooperation with the Bureau of Animal Industry. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Introduction 1 

General description of the methods followed . . 2 

Alfalfa pasturing experiments 3 

Alfalfa pasture supplemented with a 2 per 

cent ration of corn 3 

Alfalfa pasture with various grain supple- 
ments 7 



Page. 

Alfalfa pasturing experiments— Continued. 

Alfalfa pasture for sows and litters 1G 

Hogging corn 19 

Corn without supplementary feed l'J 

Corn with supplementary feed 21 

Summary 24 



INTRODUCTION. ' 

The farmer who makes a success on high-priced irrigated land must 
not only grow large crops, but he must market these crops in the 
most advantageous way. Most crops grown in localities far removed 
from the large consuming centers should be marketed in condensed 
form, so as to reduce the cost of transportation. For example, a 
hundred pounds of butter can be shipped to market much more 
cheaply than the hay and grain required to produce this butter. The 
farmer should take advantage of this fact in organizing his opera- 
tions. In addition to this saving, the manure resulting from the 
feeding of the crops makes it possible to produce larger crops in sub- 
sequent years. 

1 The experiments reported in this bulletin have been conducted on the Scottsbluff 
Experiment Farm on the North Platte Irrigation Project in Nebraska. This experiment 
farm is conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture in cooperation with 
the State Experiment Station of Nebraska. The primary object of these experiments 
has been to determine the most efficient method of utilizing alfalfa, which is the most 
important crop on this project, as it is on nearly all of the irrigated projects of the 
West. The author desires to acknowledge the assistance given him by Mr. Henry Sullivan 
in carrying out the details of the experiments. — C. 8. Scofield, Agriculturist in Charge, 
Offjce of Western Irrigation Agriculture. 
65731°— Bull. 4S8— 17 1 






2 BULLETIN 488, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

Many of the farmers on irrigated projects are financially unable 
at present to secure dairy cows or to get cattle or sheep to feed. 
There are very few, however, who can not get into the hog business 
in a very short time. Less capital and time are required in getting 
into the hog business than in any other live-stock industry. With 
$25 with which to buy small pigs and with very little grain and good 
alfalfa pasture, the farmer can get well started in the hog business in 
two years. Horses and cattle increase annually 60 to 80 per cent, 
sheep a little more than 100 per cent, while hogs should increase 600 
per cent or better. The buildings necessary for the housing of hogs 
are also relatively inexpensive. The hog is a very economical feeder. 
It takes less feed to produce a pound of pork than any other kind of 
meat produced on the farm. The hog has the ability quickly to trans- 
form the products of the farm into a readily marketable commodity. 

In the irrigated sections of the West, where alfalfa is the principal 
crop and where grain crops occupy a secondary position, the farmer 
needs information on the following points: (1) The practicability 
of using alfalfa as hog pasture; (2) the value of different quantities 
of grain when fed to hogs on alfalfa pasture; (3) the comparative 
values of corn and ground barley when fed to hogs on alfalfa pasture ; 
and (4) the practicability of hogging down corn. 

In order to secure information on these points, experiments were 
inaugurated at the Scottsbluff Experiment Farm on the North Platte 
Reclamation Project in 1912 and continued with some modifications 
in 1913, 1914, and 1915. The results of these experiments are re- 
ported in this bulletin. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS FOLLOWED. 

It has been the aim in this bulletin to use average prices and to re- 
port sufficient fundamental data to enable anyone to apply different 
prices to the results. The prices used, except where otherwise stated, 
are as follows: Gains made by hogs, $7 per hundredweight; corn, 
$1.07 per hundredweight (or 60 cents a bushel) ; ground barley, $1 
per hundredweight; alfalfa hay, $8 a ton; tankage, $64 a ton. The 
data, which usually have been calculated to an acre basis, show the 
results that were obtained from quarter-acre plats of alfalfa pasture, 
which, if cut for hay, would have yielded from 4 to 6 tons per acre ; 
and in the case of corn hogged, from one-third or one-quarter acre 
plats that yield as high as 80 bushels of corn per acre. It must be 
remembered by farmers who attempt to follow these methods of 
crop utilization that the higher the yield of the crop the larger will 
be the returns. 

The term " per cent," when referring to rations, indicates the num- 
ber of pounds fed daily per 100 pounds of live weight. The cost of 

D. ctf D * 

MAR 2 1917 



55 n3 

.ttl 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 3 

the condiments fed, sprays used, interest on investment, risk, and 
labor are not considered in this report. The term " net return," as 
used in the following text and tables, refers to the difference between 
the total return and the estimated value of grain fed and is not to be 
taken as the net return of the land after production costs and interest 
charges have been deducted. 

The hogs in these experiments had access to salt, slacked coal, and 
rock phosphate most of the time. They w T ere also sprayed with coal-tar 
creosote every two or three weeks to keep them free from lice. In fact, 
the}^ received the treatment that every farmer should give his hogs. 
The hog usually receives the least care and consideration of any 
farm animal. It is commonly believed that anything is good enough 
for hogs, but, on the contrary, the hog will respond as much to good 
care and treatment as any kind of live stock. Regularity in feeding, 
both in time and quantity of feed, clean quarters, and freedom from 
lice are three very important factors that are essential to successful 
hog raising; and these Avere provided in the experiments under con- 
sideration. The data here reported are the results of tests covering 
one to four years. In the alfalfa pasturing experiment, two lots of 
hogs were used each season, and in the corn hogging experiment, 
with supplemental feeds, duplicate lots were used. 

ALFALFA PASTURING EXPERIMENTS. 

ALFALFA PASTURE SUPPLEMENTED WITH A 2 PER CENT RATION OF CORN. 

The alfalfa pasturing experiments were begun in 1913 and con- 
tinued in 1911 and 1915. Each year a quarter-acre plat was used. 
The plat was divided into two equal parts and the hogs were changed 
from one to the other as the pasture became short. This allowed the 
alfalfa to recuperate and at the same time provided fresh, palatable 
feed. It was the plan to pasture the alfalfa to its full carrying 
capacity but not to overgraze. This made it necessary to remove 
some of the hogs during the latter part of the experiment, for as 
the season advanced and the nights became cool the alfalfa made 
slower growth and at the same time the hogs were increasing in size, 
thus requiring more feed. A few times during periods of three or 
four days of cloudy weather and also during the last month, when 
alfalfa was making little growth, the plats were perhaps slightly 
overpastured. As far as could be determined, however, no plat was 
pastured more heavily than another. 

The corn was fed on the ear during the first period, and shelled 
corn was fed during the second period. Ear corn was fed on the 
ground and the shelled corn in a trough. The barley was ground and 
fed as a thick slop. Grain was fed once a day, in the evening. It is 
believed that when fed grain but once a day the hogs will make more 



4 BULLETIN 488, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

use of the pasture than when grain is fed both morning and evening, 
as is usually the case. When not fed until evening, the hogs become 
hungry and will graze during the cool hours of the evening, even 
after the grain is eaten. Again, if the hogs are not fed grain in the 
morning they will stay out on pasture until the heat of the sun drives 
them to shade. The method of feeding grain once a day also saves 
labor. 

During the pasturing season two sets of hogs were used. Fall- 
farrowed shotes were used during the first period and spring-far- 
rowed pigs during the second period. In 1914 this plan was not fol- 
lowed strictly, as it was necessary to use a few fall-farrowed pigs 




4S4SWI 

Fig. 1. — Five fall-farrowed shotes on alfalfa pasture supplemented with a 2.3 per 
cent ration of corn during the first period in 1913. These shotes in 61 days gained 
381 pounds from one-fourth of an acre of alfalfa pasture and 1,047 pounds of corn. 

throughout the season, owing to the loss of spring pigs from cholera. 
The reason for using two sets of hogs is that fall-farrowed pigs when 
fed a liberal grain ration are ready for market about July 15, and 
April-farrowed pigs are not large enough to utilize the pasture much 
before that date. 

EXPERIMENTS IN 1013. 

Five thrifty fall-farrowed shotes, weighing a total of 544 pounds, 
were turned on a quarter-acre plat of second^ear alfalfa on May 2. 
The five shotes were all the plat would carry. They were removed 
from the plat on July 2, when they weighed a total of 925 pounds, 
having gained 381 pounds during the 61 days they were on the plat. 
While on pasture these hogs were fed 1.047 pounds of corn, at the 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 5 

rate of approximately 2.3 pounds daily for each 100 pounds of live 
weight. Figure 1 shows the five shotes on alfalfa pasture. 

On July 6, eight spring pigs, weighing a total of 273 pounds, were 
put on the alfalfa plat from which the previous lot had been removed. 
It was soon apparent that these eight pigs would not keep the pasture 
fed down, and on July 20 four more, weighing a total of 139 pounds, 
were added. All 12 pigs were unable to keep the pasture fed down 
during the early part of the period, so that it was necessary to clip 
the alfalfa once on each half of the plat. The 12 pigs were kept on 
this plat until September 10, when 6 were removed, the other 6 
remaining until September 30. During September, however, the pas- 
ture made but little growth and the 6 pigs gained only 59 pounds 
during the 20-day period. While on the alfalfa pasture, the hogs 
gained a total of 697 pounds from the quarter-acre plat of alfalfa 
and 1,267 pounds of corn, the latter being fed at the rate of approxi- 
mately 2.3 pounds daily for each 100 pounds of live weight. 

The results secured in 1913 with these two lots of hogs on alfalfa 
pasture are summarized in Table I, in which the data have been 
calculated to an acre basis. 

Table I.— Results obtained by feeding tiro lots of hogs on alfalfa pasture, sup- 
plemented with, approximately a 2 per cent corn ration, at the Scottsbluff 

Experiment Farm in 1913. 



Items of comparison. 



First 


Second 


period. 


period. 


20 


48 


1,524 


2,428 


24.8 


28.2 


4,188 


5,068 


2.75 


2.09 


36.4 


49.8 


$61.88 


$115. 72 


1.01 


1.35 


3.25 


2.64 


33.63 


32.07 



Entire 
season. 



Number of hogs 

Total gain per acre pounds . . 

Average daily gain per acre do 

Corn fed do 

Grain per pound of gain do 

Gain per 100 pounds of grain do 

Financial statement: 

Net returns per acre of pasture 

Daily net returns per acre of pasture 

Cost per 100 pounds of gain (pasture at §15 per acre; 

Equivalent paid for hay, per ton 



3,952 
26.1 

9, 256 
2.34 

42.7 



$177. 60 

1.17 

2.88 

32.85 



A very important fact shown in Table I is the large number of 
hogs carried per acre of alfalfa pasture. From May 1 to July 2 the 
carrying capacity of an acre was at the rate of 20 hogs with an aver- 
age initial weight of 108.9 pounds, and from July 20 to September 
10 the carrying capacity was at the rate of 48 hogs with an average 
initial weight of 39.8 pounds. The total final weight of the first lot 
was 3,700 pounds, whereas the total initial weight of the second lot 
was only 1,900 pounds. This shows that the smaller the hogs the 
less total live weight the pasture will carry; that is to say, twenty 
25-pound pigs will require more pasture than an equal weight of 
100-pound shotes. 



BULLETIN 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



From a farmer's standpoint a very significant fact shown in Table 
I is the high return per acre of alfalfa pasture after the value of 
the corn fed is deducted from the value of the gains. With the first 
lot this was $61.88 and with the second lot $115.72, or a total of 
$177.60 per acre for the season. If it is assumed that the value of 
the labor necessary to care for the pigs is equal to the cost of harvest- 
ing the hay crop, the hogs paid an equivalent of $33.63 a ton for the 
first cutting and $32.07 a ton for the second and third cuttings. This 
estimate is based on the assumption that the pastured plat would 
have produced hay at the same rate as the average of 11 similar plats 
in the same field. On the North Platte project $6 a ton in the stack 
is considered a good price for alfalfa hay. Considering these facts, 
the high value of hogs as a means of marketing alfalfa is clearly ap- 
parent. It required 2.75 pounds of corn for the first lot and 2.09 
pounds for the second lot for each pound of gain made. With al- 
falfa pasture valued at $15 per acre for the season ($5 for the first 
period and $10 for the second) and corn at $1.07 per hundredweight, 
each 100 pounds of gain in the first lot cost $3.25 and in the second 
lot $2.64, or an average of $2.88 for the two lots. This emphasizes 
the value of alfalfa pasture as a hog feed. 

AVERAGE OF THREE YEARS' RESULTS. 

Substantially the same methods were followed in 1914 and 1915 
as in 1913, as outlined above. Each year, fall-farrowed pigs were 
used in the first period and spring- farroAved pigs in the second 
period, except in 1914, when, because of losses from cholera, it was 
necessary to use fall pigs during the entire season. In 1915 there 
were two lots receiving the 2 per cent corn ration, so that during the 
three years there have been eight lots in all, four in each pasturing 
period. The results of the three years' tests with these eight lots 
are summarized in Table II, in which the data have been calculated 
to an acre basis. 

Table II. — Results obtained by feeding eight lots of pigs on alfalfa pasture, 
supplemented with approximately a 2 per eent corn ration, at the Scottshluff 
Experiment Farm in 1913, 191k, and 1915. 



Items of comparison. 



Number of lots averaged 

Total gain per acre., pounds 

Corn fed do. . 

drain per pound of gain do.. 

Gain per 100 pounds of grain do. . 

Financial statement: 

Net returns per acre of pasture 

Cost per 100 pounds of gain (pasture at $15 per acre) 

Equivalent paid for hay, per ton 



First 
period. 



4 
1,271 
3,671 

2.8S 
34.7 



$19.70 
3.30 
22.19 



Second 
period. 



4 

1,910 

4,173 

2.18 

45.9 



$89. 05 
2.86 
27.13 



Entire 
season. 



8 
3,181 

7,844 
2.47 
40.5 



$138. 75 
3.11 
25.13 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 7 

On an acre basis, the four lots made an average total gain of 1,271 
pounds during the first period and 1,910 pounds during the second 
period, or a total of 3,181 pounds for the season. During the first 
period the hogs were fed 3,071 pounds of corn and during the second 
period 4,173 pounds, or a total of 7,844 pounds during the season. 
It required 2.88 pounds of corn in the first period and 2.18 pounds 
in the second period, in addition to the alfalfa pasture, to produce 
1 pound of gain. For every 100 pounds of corn fed the hogs made 
a gain of 34.7 pounds during the first period and 45.9 pounds in the 
second period, or an average of 40.5 pounds during the season. 

With hogs at $7 per hundredweight and corn at $1.07 per hundred- 
weight the net return per acre of alfalfa pasture was $49.70 for the 
first period and $89.05 for the second period, or a total of $138.75 
for the season. This is equal to a daily net return of 90 cents an 
acre for the entire period of 154 days. If a charge of $5 for the first 
period and $10 for the second period is made for an acre of alfalfa 
pasture, the feed required to produce 100 pounds of gain cost $3.36 
during the first period, $2.86 during the second period, and $3.11 
for the season. 

Alfalfa plats similar to those pastured and in the same field have 
each year been harvested for hay. The three-year average yield of 
these plats was 5.52 tons per acre, or 2.24 tons for the first period 
and 3.28 tons for the second period of pasturing. On the basis of 
this yield, if it is assumed that the cost of caring for the hogs is 
equal to the cost of harvesting the hay, the hogs in the first period 
paid $22.19 and in the second period $27.13, or an average for the 
season of $25.13 a ton for alfalfa hay. 

ALFALFA PASTURE WITH VARIOUS GRAIN SUPPLEMENTS. 

EXPERIMENTS IN 1014. 

In 1914 experiments were inaugurated to secure information re- 
garding (1) the most economical quantity of corn to feed to hogs on 
alfalfa pasture, (2) the relative efficiency of 2 per cent corn and 2 
per cent ground-barley rations as supplements to alfalfa pasture, and 
(3) the carrying capacity of alfalfa pasture when no supplement is 
fed. 

The alfalfa pastured in these experiments was seeded on April 6. 
1912, hay having been harvested from the plats during the seasons 
of 1912 and 1913. The yields of the different plats during these 
years were very uniform. Figure 2 gives a view of the alfalfa 
pasture used in this experiment. The hogs used during the first 
period were a very inferior lot. They were a mixture of several 
breeds, ranging from high-grade Berkshires to scrubs and varying 
in size from '50 to 160 pounds. 



8 



BULLETIN 488, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



These hogs were put on alfalfa pasture, with a small ration of 
grain, for about a week after they were received at the farm. They 
were then weighed, ear tagged, and divided into lots which were as 
uniform as possible. The mean of three consecutive days' weighing 
was taken as the initial weight. Each hog was weighed separately 
and individual weights were kept of each throughout the experiment. 
Lot 1 received no grain; lot 2 received a 1 per cent ration of corn; 
lot 3 received 2 per cent corn; lot 4, 2 per cent barley; and lot 5, 3 
per cent corn. 

Shortly after the beginning of the first period an outbreak of 
cholera occurred. Treatment was applied as soon as possible, but 




P4940WI 

Fig. 2. — The alfalfa plats used in 1914 and 1915 in the hog-pasturing experiments at 
the Scottsbluff Experiment Farm, showing the portable houses and the method of 
dividing the pastures. 

the disease did enough damage to affect the results of the test. 
Nevertheless, fair returns were secured, the net returns per acre of 
alfalfa pasture from Maj^ 3 to July 2 ranging from $18.76, where 
no supplement was fed, to $54.19, where the pasture was supple- 
mented with a 3 per cent ration of corn. 

The plan was to use spring-farrowed pigs during the second period 
of the experiment, but, as a great many of the spring pigs had died 
from cholera, it was necessary to select the best of the smaller hogs 
that had been used during the first period. No hogs, however, were 
used from the two lots which had had no grain and 1 per cent coin, 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 9 

respectively. The hogs used were good, thrifty stock, but were not 
uniform in size, varying from 15 to over 100 pounds in weight. The 
majority weighed about 45 pounds. They were divided into lots and 
turned on the alfalfa pasture on July 8. The results obtained in the 
first period showed that the hogs which were fed grain consumed 
less alfalfa than those which received no grain. For this reason the 
number of hogs in the lots in the second period was increased in 
accordance with the grain fed. The average weights of the hogs in 
the different lots were fairly uniform, at about 58 pounds. During 
the first two weeks of the period it was necessary to replace six pigs 
which developed cholera symptoms. Owing to these changes, the 
average initial weight per pig in lots 1 and 5 was somewhat higher 
than the average weight per pig in the other lots. 

As the hogs were weighed only every 15 days, and as the grain 
ration was based on the initial weight at the beginning of each 15-day 
period, with a gradual increase to cover the estimated daily gain, it 
is apparent that the hogs might be fed slightly more or less than the 
quantity planned, but the difference was small. At the end of the 
experiment the total amount of grain actually fed was ascertained 
to have been as follows : Lot 2 was fed 1.1 per cent corn ; lot 3 was fed 
2.06 per cent corn; lot 4 was fed 1.93 per cent ground barley; and 
lot 5 was fed 2.64 per cent corn. Lot 1 received no grain. 

There were seven pigs, weighing a total of 396 pounds, in lot 1 at 
the beginning of the experiment. One pig died at the end of the 
second month, and on August 22, when the plat was becoming over- 
pastured, a hog weighing 120 pounds was taken out. On September 9, 
when the growth of the alfalfa had become very slow, four more pigs 
were taken off the plat. The total gain made by the pigs in this lot 
from July 8 to October 6 was 102 pounds, or 408 pounds per acre. 
In lot 2 there were eight pigs, with a total initial weight of 516 
pounds. On August 22 one pig weighing 119 pounds, and on Septem- 
ber 9 five more pigs, weighing a total of 391 pounds, were removed 
because the pasture was becoming overgrazed. This lot made a total 
gain of 252 pounds from the quarter acre of alfalfa and 495 pounds 
of corn. In lot 3, which was fed 2 per cent corn, there were 10 pigs, 
with a total initial weight of 573 pounds. On August 22 one pig, 
weighing 126 pounds, was taken out, and September 9 six more, weigh- 
ing a total of 573 pounds, were removed, leaving three pigs with a com- 
bined weight of 305 pounds. This lot was fed 1,162 pounds of corn and 
made a total gain of 475 pounds. In lot 4, which was fed 2 per cent 
barley, there were 10 pigs, having a total initial weight of 561 pounds. 
To avoid overpasturing the plat, one pig, weighing 92 pounds, was 
removed on August 22, and six pigs, weighing a total of 439 pounds, 
were removed on September 9. This lot was fed 1,058 pounds of 
65731°— Bull. 4SS— 17 2 



10 



BULLETIN 488, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



barley during the period and made 435 pounds of gain. In lot 5, 
which was fed 3 per cent corn, there were 11 pigs, having a total 
initial weight of 771 pounds. Owing to shortage of pasture, one pig 
weighing 135 pounds was removed August 22. On September 9 six 
more pigs, with a total weight of 589 pounds, were removed. Lot 5 
was fed 2,202 pounds of corn during the period and made a total gain 
of 735 pounds. The experiment closed on October 6. 

Table III shows the combined results of the two periods of 1914, 
calculated to an acre basis. The results for the first period were not 
what could be expected under favorable conditions, since the hogs 
used were rather inferior and the outbreak of cholera did some dam- 
age. The hogs used during the second period were fairly good stock 
and the results should be fairly dependable. It is thought also that 
the combined results of the two periods give a reliable indication of 
the effects of feeding different quantities of grain, as well as showing 
what was possible under the conditions that prevailed. 

Table III. — Results obtained by feeding five lots of hogs on alfalfa pasture, 
supplemented with varying quantities of grain, at the Seottsbluff Experiment 
Farm during tiro periods in lOVj. 



Items of comparison. 



Tot al gain per acre pounds. 

Average daily gain per acre do — 

Grain fed do ... , 

Grain per pound of gain do — 

Gain per 100 pounds of grain do — 

Financial statement: 

Net returns per acre of pasture 

Daily net returns per acre of pasture 

Net returns for 100 pounds of grain (pasture at 

$47.32 per acre) 

Cost per 100 pounds of gain 

Equivalent paid for hay, per ton 



Lot 1 , no 

grain. 



676 

4.33 

None. 



$47. 32 
.30 



2.22 
7.22 



Lot 2, 1 

per cent 

corn. 



1,520 
9.75 

3,595 
2.36 

42.3 



$67. 93 
.43 

1.64 
3.52 
13.38 



Lot 3, 2 

per cent 

corn. 



3.036 
19.46 
8.266 
2.72 
36.8 



$124. 07 
.81 

2.00 
3.41 
19.21 



Lot 4, 2 
per cent 
barley. 



2.7S0 
17.82 
7,744 
2.78 
36.0 



$117. 16 
.75 

1.91 
3.32 
17.86 



Lot 5, 3 

per cent 

corn. 



4,416 
28.30 
13,352 
3.02 
33.1 



$166. 25 
1.06 

1.96 

3.61 

25.30 



Table III shows the total and daily gains for each lot of hogs from 
May 3 to October 6, a period of 156 days. The gains varied with the 
amount of grain fed. Lot 1 made 676 pounds of gain; lot 2, 1,520 
pounds; lot 3, 3,036 pounds; lot 4, 2,780 pounds; and lot 5, 4,416 
pounds. The daily gains per acre as shown in Table III varied from 
4.33 pounds in lot 1, which received no grain, to 28.3 pounds in lot 5, 
which received approximately a 3 per cent ration of corn. Lot 5 
made 3,740 pounds more gain per acre than lot 1. Lot 5 was fed 
13,352 pounds of corn, while lot 1 received no grain. The 3,750 
pounds of gain, therefore, can be credited to the use of 13.352 
pounds of corn; that is to say, each 100 pounds of corn fed resulted 
in the production of 28 pounds of pork, whereas when hogs are fed 
corn alone 18 pounds per 100 pounds of corn is considered a satis- 
factory gain. The hogs in lot 5 paid $1.96 per hundredweight for 



DISPOSAL OP IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 11 

the corn fed. By this method of calculation it can be shown that lot 
2 paid $1.64, lot 3, $2, and lot 4, $1.91 per hundredweight for the 
grain fed. 

The quantity of grain required with alfalfa pasture to produce 
a pound of pork varied from 2.36 pounds in lot 2 to 3.02 pounds in 
lot 5, the quantity increasing with the total quantity of grain fed. 
The cost per 100 pounds of gain varied from $2.22 in lot 1 to $3.61 in 
lot 5. The total and daily net return per acre of alfalfa pasture 
increased with the amount of grain fed. Lot 1, with no grain, paid 
$47.32 an acre for the alfalfa pasture. This was much more than the 
hay crop would have sold for in the stack had it been harvested. 
This partly explains why many farmers are content to carry hogs 
through the summer on alfalfa pasture with little or no grain. After 
paying for the grain fed, lot 2 paid $67.93; lot 3, $124.07; lot 4, 
$117.16; and lot 5, $166.25 per acre of alfalfa pasture for the season. 
The daily net returns per acre of alfalfa increased from 30 cents 
where no grain was fed to $1.06 where about 3 per cent of corn 
was fed. 

Five plats of alfalfa in the same field where these experiments were 
conducted yielded at the rate of 6.56 tons of hay per acre in four cut- 
tings. On the basis of this yield, if the cost of harvesting the hay 
crop is equal to the cost of caring for the hogs, lot 1 paid $7.22 a ton 
for alfalfa hay; lot 2 paid $13.38; lot 3, $19.21; lot 4, $17.86; and lot 
5, $25.30. The manure left on the land is also of some value and 
should be considered in favor of the practice of pasturing hogs on 
alfalfa. 

EXPERIMENTS IN 1915. 

The 1914 pasturing experiments were repeated during the summer 
of 1915, with the addition of one more lot (3a) fed 2 per cent corn. 
These pasturing experiments were conducted on the same alfalfa 
plats that were used in 1914, with the exception of one, lot 3<2, which 
was on third-year alfalfa. The same general plan was followed in 
1915 as in 1914, as described above. 

The 1915 season was very backward and suffered many disadvan- 
tages. The hogs were put on pasture on April 26. The first two 
weeks the hogs did well, but on May 18 a foot of snow fell and the 
temperature dropped to 29° F. This made it necessary to remove 
the hogs from the plats for seven days, during which time each lot 
was kept separately and fed the regular amount of grain. Again, 
on August 6, a severe hailstorm did a great deal of damage to the 
alfalfa, The damage done on the pasture plats was not as great as 
on the plats which were left for hay. There is little doubt that the 
hogs obtained more feed from the pastured plats than was harvested 



12 



BULLETIN" 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



from the others. In 1914 the average yield from the harvested plats 
was 6.53 tons and in 1915 only 4.47 tons per acre. The hogs used in 
the experiments during 1915 were of very much better quality than 
those used in 1914. This may explain why the returns in 1915, not- 
withstanding the damage done to the alfalfa, were equal to those of 
1914. 

The first period extended from April 26 to June 30, or a total of 
60 days. The shotes used were farrowed during the fall and late 
summer of the previous year and weighed an average of 108 pounds 
when the experiment began. The pigs used during the second 
period, which began June 30, were pure-bred Duroc-Jerseys. They 
were reared on the experiment farm, where they were farrowed dur- 
ing April and the early part of May. They weighed an average of 
33 pounds when the experiment began. Though small, they were in 
good, thrifty condition. When the cool weather of autumn came on, 
the alfalfa made less growth, which made it necessary to take out 
hogs at different times. The experiment closed September 27. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the summer of 1915 was very back- 
ward and cool, the returns from alfalfa pastures were practically 
the same as in 1914. The hogs used in 1915 were smaller and a very 
much better class of stock than those used in 1914, when returns 
from the first period were reduced by cholera. Better stock and 
freedom from sickness in 1915 apparently offset the low yield of 
alfalfa in that year. The second period in 1915 gave higher returns 
for both grain and pasture, and also cheaper gains than were se- 
cured in the first period. It is generally true that the smaller the 
hogs, other things being equal, the more economical the gains. 

A summary of the results of the two periods of 1915 is given in 
Table IV, in which the data have been calculated to an acre basis. 

Table IV. — Result* obtained by feeding six lots of hogs on alfalfa pasture, 
supplemented with varying quantities of grain, at the Seottsbluff Experiment 
Farm during two periods in 1915. 



Items of comparison. 



Total gain per acre pounds. . 

Average daily gain per acre do — 

Grain fed do 

Grain per pound of gain do 

Gain per 100 pounds of grain do 



Financial statement: 

Net returns per acre of pasture 

Daily net returns per acre of past ure. . 
Net returns for 100 pounds of grain 

(pasture at $42.84 per acre) 

Cost per 100 pounds of gain (pasture at 

815 per acre) 

Equivalent paid for hay, per ton 



Lot 1, no 
grain. 



612 

4.0 

None. 



$42. 84 
.28 



2.45 

9. 58 



Lot 2, 1 

per cent 

corn. 



1,456 

0.5 

2, 752 

L.89 

53.0 



$72. 48 
.47 



3.06 
16.21 



Lot 3, 2 

per cent 

corn. 



2,976 
19. 3 

7,048 
2. 53 

39.5 



$132. 91 
.86 



2.20 



3.04 
29. 54 



Lot 3a, 2 

per cent 

corn. 



2,760 
17.9 

6,796 
2.46 

40.7 



$120. 49 
.78 



3.17 
26.95 



Lot 4, 2 
per cent 
oarley. 



2,772 
18.0 

6,728 
2.43 

41.1 



2.23 



2.97 

28. 13 



Lot 5, 3 

per cent 

corn. 



4.292 

27.9 

12,168 

2. S3 

35.3 



$170. 24 
1.10 



3.38 
38.07 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 13 

For the entire season of 1915, as shown in Table IV, the gains per 
acre were as follows: Lot 1, 612; lot 2, 1,456; lot 3, 2,976; lot 3a., 
2,760; lot 4, 2,772; and lot 5, 4,292 pounds. The lot that was fed 3 
per cent corn made seven times as much gain as the lot which re- 
ceived no grain. The grain consumed for each pound of gain in- 
creased with the grain ration. It required 1.5 times as much grain 
for each pound of gain where a 3 per cent corn ration was fed as it 
did where only a 1 per cent corn ration was fed. For every 100 
pounds of grain fed the 1 per cent corn lots gained 53 pounds; the 
average of the 2 per cent grain lots was 40.4 pounds; and the 3 per 
cent corn lots gained 35.3 pounds. 

When the gains made are figured at $7 per hundredweight and the 
lots charged $1.07 per hundredweight for corn and $1 for ground 
barley, the net returns per acre for alfalfa pasture were as follows: 
Lot 1, $42.84; lot 2, $72.48; lot 3, $132.91; lot 3a, $120.49; lot 4, 
$126.76 ; and lot 5, $170.24. From April 26 to September 27, a period 
of 154 days, the hogs gave an average daily net return ranging from 
28 cents, where no grain was fed, to $1.10, where 3 per cent corn was 
fed. At this rate a 10-acre alfalfa field pastured with hogs getting 
a 3 per cent ration of corn would pay $11 net per day, whereas if no 
grain was fed the same 10-acre field would return only $2.80 per day. 
The no-grain lot paid at the rate of $42.84 an acre for alfalfa pas- 
ture. When the grain-fed lots are charged the same amount for the 
pasture, they still paid very liberally for the grain fed, as is shown in 
Table IV. 

The equivalent paid for hay by the different lots greatly increased 
with the grain ration. The no-grain lot returned an equivalent of 
$9.58; the 1 per cent lot, $16.21; the average of the 2 per cent grain 
lots, $28.21 ; and the 3 per cent grain lot paid $38.07 per ton, or four 
times as much as the no-grain lot. This fact, together with the high 
price paid for the grain, emphasizes the advisability of feeding grain 
in connection with alfalfa pasture in order to realize the highest re- 
turn from both the grain and the alfalfa crops. 

SUMMARY OF THE TWO YEARS' RESULTS. 

The results of the experiments in 1914 and 1915 with alfalfa pas- 
ture and various grain supplements are summarized in Table V. 
As two lots of hogs were used each year in each part of the test, the 
figures in Table V show the average of the results secured from four 
lots of hogs in each instance. The figures have been calculated to an 
acre basis. 

The results of two years' work show that hogs on alfalfa pasture 
without grain produced an average of 644 pounds of gain per acre. 
The same area of pasture, with the addition of 3,174 pounds of corn, 



14 



BULLETIN 488, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGBICULTUBE. 



produced 1,488 pounds of gain. Where 7,657 pounds of corn was fed 
the gain was 3,000 pounds; where 7,236 pounds of ground barley was 
fed the gain was 2,776 pounds, and where 12,760 pounds of corn sup- 
plemented the alfalfa pasture, the gain was 4,354 pounds per acre 
of pasture. With this information the farmer can apply prices 
that suit his own particular condition and determine the most eco- 
nomical quantity of grain to feed. 

Table V. — Results obtained by feeding hogs on alfalfa pasture, supplemented 
with varying quantities of grain, at the Scottsbluff Experiment Farm in VJl-'i 
and 1915. 



Items of comparison. 



gram. 



Lot 2, 1 

per cent 

corn. 



Lot 3, 2 

per cent 

corn. 



Lot 4, 2 
per cent 
barley. 



Lot 5, 3 

per cent 

corn. 



Total gain per acre pounds. . 

Average daily gain per acre do 

Grain fed .-do 

Grain per pound of gain do 

Gain per 100 pounds of grain do 

Financial statement: 

Net returns per acre of pasture 

Daily net returns per acre of pasture 

Net returns for 100 pounds of grain (pasture at 

$45.08 per acre) 

Cost per 100 pounds of gain (pasture at $15 per 

acre) 

Equivalent paid for hay, per ton 



644 
4.1 



$45. 08 
.29 



2.33 

S. lti 



1,488 

9.6 

3,174 

2.11 

47.4 



70.20 
.45 



3.29 
12.71 



3,006 
19.3 

7,657 

2.63 

38.0 



2,776 
17.9 

7,236 
2.61 

38.3 



4,354 

28.0 

12, 760 

2.93 

34.1 



$128. 49 
.S3 



2.16 



3.22 
23.25 



$121.96 
.79 



3.14 
22.10 



$168. 25 
1.08 



3.48 
30.48 



Two years' results show that more pasture is required when no 
grain is fed and that as the grain ration is increased the area of pas- 
ture required is decreased. The areas required when no grain, 1 per 
cent grain, 2 per cent grain, and 3 per cent grain were fed were ap- 
proximately as 5, 4, 3, and 2, respectively. 

For every 100 pounds of grain fed, lot 2 made 47.4 pounds of gain ; 
lot 3, 38 pounds; lot 4, 38.3 pounds; and lot 5, 34.1 pounds. The 
higher the grain ration the lower the gains per unit of grain fed. 
Also, the lower the grain ration the more pasture was required for 
100 pounds of gain. 

With the prices here used, the two-year average net return per 
acre of alfalfa pasture were as follows: No-grain lot, $45.08; 1 per 
cent corn lot, $70.20; 2 per cent corn lot, $128.49; 2 per cent ground 
barley lot, $121.96 ; and the 3 per cent corn lot, $168.25. The average 
daily net return per acre for 154 days ranged from 29 cents, where 
no grain was fed, to $1.08, when a 3 per cent ration of corn was fed. 

The two-year average net return per acre of alfalfa pasture from 
lots 3 and 4 show the sum of $6.43 in favor- of corn over ground 
barley. It will also be seen from Table V that the corn lot was fed 
a little more grain than the barley lot. Higher returns would, there- 
fore, be expected from the corn-fed lot, as the results have shown that 
the net returns for pasture increase with the grain ration. The dif- 
ference in net returns, therefore, is not enough to warrant the state- 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 15 

ment that corn at $1.07 per hundredweight is cheaper feed than 
ground barley at $1 per hundredweight. The average of the two 
years' results, and especially the 1915 results, seems to indicate very 
strongly that, pound for pound, ground barley is approximately 
equal to corn as feed for hogs in supplementing alfalfa pasture. 

The two-year average net return for alfalfa pasture was $45.08 
where no grain was fed. If the grain-fed lots are charged this 
amount for pasture, the net returns for each 100 pounds of grain 
fed were as follows: 1 per cent corn lot, $1.86; 2 per cent corn lot, 
$2.16; 2 per cent barley lot, $2.06; and the 3 per cent corn lot, $2.03. 
It appears from this that 2 pounds of corn per day for each 100 
pounds of live weight is the most satisfactory ration of corn for hogs 




P5395WI 

Fig. 3. — Representative hogs from the lots fed varying grain supplements on alfalfa 
pasture at the close of the second period in 1914. From left to right : No grain, 
1 per cent corn, 2 per cent corn, and 3 per cent corn. 

on alfalfa pasture in order to get the highest return from both the 
corn and alfalfa pasture. This is true when the feeder can get only 
a limited amount of corn, but when an abundant supply of corn is 
available at not more than $1.07 per hundredweight, it may be de- 
sirable to feed about 3 pounds of corn to each 100 pounds of live 
weight. Hogs fed a 3 per cent ration of corn will make a faster 
growth than those fed a 2 per cent ration and hence be ready for the 
market earlier. As a saving of time lessens risk and also saves in- 
terest on investment, this is a factor to be considered. Figure 3 
shows a representative hog from the lot getting no grain, and one 
each from lots getting 1 per cent, 2 per cent, and 3 per cent of corn 
in 1914. 



16 BULLETIN" 488, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 

When a charge of $15 per acre is made for the alfalfa pasture, the 
total cost per 100 pounds of gain was as follows : No-grain lot, $2.38 ; 
1 per cent corn lot, $3.29 ; 2 per cent corn lot, $3.22 ; 2 per cent barley 
lot, $3.14; and the 3 per cent corn lot, $3.48. The no-grain lot made 
gains for $1.15 per hundredweight less than the 3 per cent corn lot 
did. It might appear from this that to pasture hogs on alfalfa 
without grain is the best practice, but this is not generally true, 
because of the much smaller returns of pork per acre. 

Perhaps the most impressive thing shown in Table V is the amount 
paid for hay and its very rapid increase with the increase in the grain 
rations. The 2-year average yield of alfalfa hay from the check 
plats was 5.52 tons per acre. On this basis and assuming that the 
care of the hogs is equal to the cost of harvesting the hay, the no- 
grain lot paid an equivalent of $8.10; the 1 per cent grain lot paid 
$12.71 ; the 2 per cent grain lots, an average of $22.07, and the 3 per 
cent grain lot, $30.48 a ton for alfalfa. 

It seems certain that it will pay the farmer to feed hogs on alfalfa 
pasture at least 2 pounds of corn daily per 100 pounds of live weight. 
By so doing he will not only get a higher return from his alfalfa, 
but he may expect also to make a profit on the corn fed. According 
to these results, it requires less capital for the same net return where 
grain is fed than where no grain is fed. When a 3 per cent corn 
ration is fed with alfalfa pasture, 1 acre will produce as much pork 
as 6.5 acres of alfalfa without grain, or a saving of 5.5 acres of land. 
Again, when fed a 3 per cent corn ration with alfalfa pasture, 52 
pigs will make as much pork as 156 pigs on alfalfa pasture alone. 

ALFALFA PASTURE FOR SOWS AND LITTERS. 

The following is a discussion of the results obtained by pasturing 
sows and their litters on alfalfa pasture. The first experiment began 
in the spring of 1914, as soon as the alfalfa was large enough to 
pasture, and continued 00 days. There were two sows and their 
pigs in each lot. During the first month and a half the quarter-acre 
plat furnished plenty of pasture, but after that time the pigs were 
so large that the pasture could not carry them all. When the pigs 
were large enough to wean, one or both of the sows were removed to 
prevent overpasturing. 

The sows and pigs were fed daily approximately 2 pounds of corn 
for each 100 pounds of the weight of both sows and pigs. At first 
the grain was fed to the sows only, but later, when the pigs began to 
eat, they were fed separately. A small opening was made in the 
dividing fence, so that the pigs could go from one half of the pasture 
to the other. Both sows and pigs were fed twice daily, morning and 
evening. There are two ways of looking at the results of these 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 17 

experiments. One is to charge the pigs with only the feed and the 
other is to charge the pigs with both feed and the loss in weight of 
the sows. The second method is used here. 

In 1914 two sows and 14 pigs were put on the alfalfa pasture plat 
on May 4. On this date the two sows weighed a total of 702 pounds 
and the 14 pigs a total of 164 pounds. The experiment closed on July 
3. At this date one sow still remained on the plat, while the other one 
had been taken off on June 19. The final weight of the two sows was 
G03 pounds, or 99 pounds less than the initial weight. The 14 pigs 
weighed a total of 636 pounds. They had increased in weight 472 
pounds in 60 days. The total initial weight of the sows and pigs 
was 866 and their total final weight 1,239 pounds, or a total increase 
of 373 pounds for the lot. The lot was fed 1,176 pounds of corn. 
The 373 pounds gain at $7 per hundredweight is worth $26.11. De- 
ducting from this the cost of 1,176 pounds of corn at $1.07 per hun- 
dredweight, or $12.58, leaves a return of $13.53 for one-fourth acre 
of alfalfa pasture for 60 days, or a daily return of 90 cents per acre. 
The sows and pigs ate 3.02, pounds of corn for each pound of net 
gain. With corn at $1.07 per hundredweight and alfalfa pasture 
at $7 an acre for 60 days, 100 pounds of gain cost $3.83. This lot ■ 
paid the equivalent of $19.02 a ton for alfalfa hay. A tabulated 
statement of this lot is given in the first column of Tables VI 
and VII. 

In the 1915 tests, which began April 27 and ended June 26, there 
were three lots of two sows and litters each. One lot was fed ground 
barley and the other two lots were fed corn. They were fed grain 
at the rate of about 2 pounds daily for each 100 pounds of live 
weight. In two of the lots old sows were used and in the other gilts 
were used. The total initial weight of lot 6, which received ground 
barley, was 760 pounds. The sows weighed 702 and the 17 pigs 
58 pounds. One sow was taken off on June 9. The other remained 
until the close of the experiment. The total final weight was 1,178 
pounds, or a total gain of 418 pounds. The sows lost 28 pounds 
and the pigs gained 446 pounds. A total of 982 pounds of ground 
barley was fed to this lot. From each 100 pounds of grain fed 
this lot produced 42.5 pounds of gain. After paying $1 per hun- 
dredweight for the barley fed, the lot still paid at the rate of $1.30 
daily for an acre of alfalfa pasture. In lot 7, which was fed corn, 
the initial weight of the two sows was 873 pounds and of the 
15 pigs 83 pounds, or a total of 956 pounds. The old sows were 
taken off the plat on June 9. At this date they weighed 780 pounds, 
or 93 pounds less than they did when the experiment began. The 
final weight of the pigs was 574 pounds, their increase being 491 
pounds. The total increase in weight of the lot was 398 pounds. 



18 



BULLETIN 488, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



This lot was fed 1,098 pounds of corn. For each 100 pounds of corn 
fed this lot gained 36.2 pounds. The daily net return per acre of 
pasture was $1.09. In lot 8, which also received corn, the sows were 
gilts and were much lighter than the old sows in the other two lots. 
At the beginning of the experiment the two sows weighed 408 pounds, 
and when taken off the plat on June 9 they weighed 130 pounds, a 
loss of 38 pounds. The initial weight of the 15 pigs was 118 pounds 
and the final weight 541 pounds. The total gain of the lot was 385 
pounds. While on pasture this lot was fed 884 pounds of corn, the 
lot producing 43.8 pounds of gain per 100 pounds of grain. On an 
acre basis, the daily net return for pasture was $1.17. 

The initial and final weights for both sows and pigs, with their 
loss or gain, and the amount of grain fed for the 1914 lot and the 
three 1915 lots are given in Table VI. 

Table VI. — Weights of the sows and pigs and the amount of grain fed while 
on one-fourth of an acre of alfalfa pasture for 60 dags, at the Scottsbluff 
Experiment Farm in 191 '/ and 1915. 



Items of comparison. 



Number of sows 

Number of pigs 

Initial weight of sows .• pounds . 

Initial weight of pigs do. . . 

Final weight of sows do. . . 

Final weight of pigs do . . . 

Loss by sows do... 

Gain by pigs do . . . 

Net gains do... 

Grain fed .' do. . . 



1914 



1915 



Corn. 



2 
14 

702 
164 
603 
636 
99 
472 
373 
,176 



Lot 6, 


Lot 7, 


2 per cent 


2 per cent 


barley. 


corn. 


2 


2 


17 


15 


702 


873 


58 


83 


674 


780 


504 


574 


28 


93 


446 


491 


418 


398 


982 


1,098 



Lot 8, 

2 per cent 

corn. 



2 
15 
468 
118 
430 
541 
38 
423 
385 



As shown in Table VI, the pigs used in 1914 were much larger than 
those used in 1915, the former being older than the latter. If the lot 
had not been charged with the loss in weight of the sows, the results 
would have been still more favorable, especially in the 1914 lot and 
in lot 7. In these two lots, for some reason, the sows lost much more 
than in the other two lots. More complete data obtained from 
pasturing sows and their litters on alfalfa in 1914 and 1915 are given 
in Table VII, in which the results have been computed to an acre 
basis. 

As shown in Table VII, the net returns were higher in 1915 than 
in 1914. The average of the four lots shows that it required 2.62 
pounds of grain with alfalfa pasture to produce 1 pound of gain, or 
for every 100 pounds of grain fed the sows and pigs gained 38.2 
pounds. The average net return per acre of alfalfa pasture for 60 
days was $66.84, or a daily net return of $1.11. The lowest net 
return for the pasture was $54.11 and the highest $77.76. This 
highest net return was obtained from the lot fed ground barley. 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OP HOGS. 



19 



Table VII. — Results obtained by feeding sows and their litters on alfalfa pas- 
ture, supplemented with a 2 per cent ration of grain, at the Bcottsbluff 
Experiment Farm in 1D14 and 1915. 



Items of comparison. 



Number of sows and litters 

Average number of pigs per litter 

Average initial weight of pigs pounds. 

Average final weight of pigs do. . . 

Total gain per acre do. . . 

Average daily gain for lot do. . . 

Total grain fed do. . . 

Grain per pound of gain do. . . 

Gain per 100 pounds of grain do. . . 

Financial statement: 

Net returns per acre of pasture 

Daily net returns per acre of pasture 

Cost per 100 pounds of gain (pastureat $7 peracre) 
Equivalent paid for hay, per ton 



1914, 

2 per cent 

corn 



7 
11.71 

45.4 
1,492 

24.9 
4,704 

3.15 
31.7 



$54.11 

.90 

3.83 

19.02 



1915 



Lot 6, 

2 percent 

barley. 



8.5 
3.41 
29.6 

1,672 
27.9 

3,928 
2.35 

42.5 



$77. 76 

1.30 

2.76 

37. 74 



Lot 7, 

2 per cent 

corn. 



7.5 
5.53 
38.2 

1,592 
26.5 

4,392 
2.76 

36.2 



Lot 8, 

2 per cent 

corn. 



7.5 
7.90 
36.1 

1,540 
25.7 

3,536 
2.28 

43.8 



$65. 52 

1.09 

3.32 

31.80 



$69. 97 

1.17 

2.91 

33.96 



1914 and 

1915, 
average 
of 4 lots. 



7.62 
6.95 
37.0 

1,574 
26.2 

4,140 
2.62 

38.2 



$66. 84 

1.11 

3.21 

30.63 



If the sows and pigs are charged $7 per acre for 60 days' use of 
alfalfa pasture, $1.07 per hundredweight for corn, and $1 per hun- 
dredweight for barley, each 100 pounds of gain cost an average of 
$3.21. The gains on the 1914 lot cost $3.83 per hundredweight, while 
the gains on lot 6 (barley) in 1915 cost only $2.76. 

The average yield of similar plats of alfalfa during these pasturing 
periods was 2.85 tons in 1914 and 2.06 tons in 1915. If it is assumed 
that the pastured plats would have yielded the same, the four lots 
paid an average of $30.63 a ton for alfalfa hay and the hogs did the 
harvesting themselves. .Moreover, by pasturing the alfalfa it may 
be assumed that the fertility of the soil was somewhat increased. 

HOGGING CORN. 

The experiments which have been conducted with different methods 
of hogging corn fall into two classes: (1) Those in which no supple- 
ment was fed with the corn and (2) those in which the hogs were pro- 
vided with some nitrogenous feed while they were in the cornfield. 
Experiments in which no supplements were used have been conducted 
for four years and the others for two years. 

CORN WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTARY FEED. 

Each year in the irrigated crop-rotation field, a quarter-acre plat 
of corn in a 6-year rotation is fenced and the hogs are turned into 
it to harvest the crop. This experiment began in 1912 and has been 
continued each year. The hogs are turned into the corn when it is 
well "dented," usually about September 10. As no supplementary 
feed is supplied and as the weeds and volunteer alfalfa are kept down, 
the gains secured are made from corn alone. Each year since 1912 



20 BULLETIN 488, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

the corn has been grown on land which had produced alfalfa the 
previous year. This explains the difference in yields, as will be indi- 
cated later. 

In 1912 seven hogs were used in the test, one old sow weighing 384 
pounds and six shotes with an average weight of 72 pounds. The 
hogs were on the plat 16 days. When removed the lot weighed 974 
pounds, the total gain having been 157 pounds. The sow made a 
daily gain of 1.44 pounds, while each shote, weighing less than one- 
fifth as much as the sow, gained 1.24 pounds per day. In other words, 
the sow made 0.6 per cent daily gain and the pigs made 1.51 per cent 
daily gain. The average yield of five similar quarter-acre plats of 
corn in the same field was 795 pounds. If it is assumed that the 
hogged plat yielded the same as this average, the hogs paid $1.38 per 
hundredweight for the corn in the field. 

Six thrifty shotes, averaging 92 pounds each, were used in 1913. 
These shotes had been on alfalfa pasture with a 2.3 per cent ration 
of corn during the summer. The shotes were on the corn plat 28 
days. When they were taken off they weighed 800 pounds, having 
gained 253 pounds. The corn yield was estimated at 1,154 pounds. 
On this basis the hogs paid $1.53 per hundredweight for the corn. 

The six hogs used to harvest the corn plat in 1914 were thin and 
small. During the summer two had been on alfalfa pasture without 
grain and four on alfalfa pasture with a 1 per cent corn ration. Their 
total initial weight was 380 pounds and their total final weight was 
642 pounds. The hogs were on the corn plat 49 days and gained 262 
pounds. The yield of the corn plat was estimated at 1,142 pounds. 
On this basis the hogs paid $1.60 per hundredweight for the corn 
in the field. 

Three shotes, with a total initial weight of 224 pounds, were used 
in 1915. Their final weight, after they had been on the plat for 19 
days, was 277 pounds, the gain being 53 pounds. This poor return 
was due to the fact that the corn plat was almost completely hailed 
out. The yield of the plat was estimated at 370 pounds. In this test, 
if the estimated yield is correct, it required 694 pounds of corn to 
produce 100 pounds of gain and this gain cost $7.43. 

The results of the four years' tests, computed to an acre basis, are 
given in Table VIII. These results are not strictly comparable, as 
there were two varying factors. The average initial weight of the 
hogs varied from 117 pounds in 1912 to 63 pounds in 1914, and the 
number of days that the hogs were on the corn varied from 16 in 
1912 to 49 in 1914. Small shotes will make more gain than larger 
hogs from a given quantity of feed. Hogs that have just been taken 
from alfalfa pasture will make very good gains for a short period 
on corn alone, but when fed corn alone for a long period the gains 
are not so good. In other words, 100 pounds of corn will make more 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. 21 



gain on hogs the first week after the hogs are taken off alfalfa pasture 
than the same amount of corn will when fed to hogs that have been 
on corn alone for several weeks. As will be seen from Table VIII, 
these two variable factors were in direct opposition to each other; 
that is, the larger the hogs the shorter the feeding period. As the 
corn crop in 1915 was seriously affected by hail, the results of that 
year are not included in the average shown in Table VIII, but they 
are shown in the last column of the table as a matter of record. 

Table VIII. — Results of hogging corn ivithout supplementary feed at the Scotts- 
Nuff Experiment Farm in 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1915. 



Items of comparison. 



3-year 
average. 



1915 



Number of hogs per acre 

Number of days 

Average initial weight pounds. 

Average final weight do. . . 

Total gain per acre do... 

Estimated yield of corn bushels. 

Gain per 100 pounds of corn pounds. 

Financial statement: 

Value of gains per acre 

Returns for 100 pounds of corn 

Cost per 100 pounds of gain (corn at $1.07 per 
hundredweight) 



28 

16 

117 

139 

628 

56.1 

20.0 



24 
28 
91 
133 

1,012 
82.6 
21.8 



24 

49 
63 
107 

1,048 
81.9 
22.6 



23 
31 
90 

126 
896 

76.87 
21.5 



12 

19 

75 

92 

212 

26.2 

14.5 



$42. 96 
1.38 



$70. 84 
1.53 



$73. 36 
1.60 



$65. 72 
1.50 



$14. 84 
1.00 



A short hogging period is objectionable from an experimental 
standpoint because there are more chances of error. For example, if 
the hogs are gaunt at either the initial or final weighing, 20 hogs on 
a corn plat for 1 week will give a larger error than 2 hogs on the same 
plat for 10 weeks. The mean weight of three consecutive days' weigh- 
ing will not entirely eliminate this error, especially if the hogs are 
left on the corn plat too long and are gaunt at the final weighing. 
Just how much each of these factors influenced the results shown in 
Table VIII is uncertain. There is little doubt that the low returns 
per bushel of corn in 1912 were due to the fact that the large sow 
was in the lot. The low total gains and net returns per acre in 1912, 
however, were due largely to the low yield of corn, it having been 
estimated at 56.1 bushels per acre, as compared with 82.6 and 81.9 
bushels, respectively, for the two succeeding years. In computing 
the cost of 100 pounds of gain, a charge of $1.07 per hundredweight 
was made for the corn. The results show that this method of utiliz- 
ing corn has much to recommend it. 

CORN WITH SUPPLEMENTARY FEED. 

To secure information regarding the value of tankage and of 
alfalfa pasture as supplements to corn when hogged off, an experi- 
ment was conducted in duplicate in 1914 and 1915. Six lots of hogs 
were used each year, as follows: Lots 1 and 2, hogged corn alone; 
lots 3 and 4, hogged corn and had access to an alfalfa field ; and lots 



l 2 BULLETIN 488, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

5 and 6, hogged corn and had what tankage they would eat. The 
shotes used in this experiment had been in the alfalfa pasturing 
experiment and were very uniform in size, as will be seen from the 
weights given in Table IX. 

Both years the cornfield to be hogged was divided into six separate 
fields of one-third acre each by a fence of 26-inch hog wire between 
the corn rows. The cornfield used in 1914 was located on a break of 
high land, where in places the gravel came near the surface, causing 
some differences in the yield of the different plats. The plats used 
in 1915 were more uniform, but the corn, owing to hail and frost, was 
not as good as the corn that was hogged the year before. 

Each year the yield of each plat was estimated by counting all the 
stalks of corn and harvesting systematically the corn from 100 stalks ; 
that is to say, if a plat had a total of 3,400 stalks, the corn was har- 
vested from every thirty-fourth stalk. The harvested corn was dried, 
weighed, and returned to the plat to be eaten by the hogs. The total 
weight was divided by 100, to get the average yield per stalk har- 
vested. This average weight was then multiplied by the total number 
of stalks on the plat in order to get the yield. 

As the low-yielding plats became cleaned up, weighed quantities 
of corn were added, so that all the hogs would be kept on feed the 
same length of time. Enough corn was added as became necessary 
so that the hogs had corn before them all the time. When the last 
lot had cleaned up its plat the experiment was closed. In 1914 the 
hogs were in the corn plats from September 9 to November 25, a 
period of 77 days. The 1915 test began October 6 and closed 
November 30, covering a period of 55 days. 

The hogs were watered twice a day. Lots 5 and 6 were fed tank- 
age when they were watered, the tankage being fed as a thin slop. 
The plats used by lots 3 and 4 opened into an alfalfa pasture. The 
hog house was placed in the alfalfa field, so that the hogs would 
have to pass through the alfalfa in going to and from the cornfield. 
All weeds and volunteer alfalfa were removed from the plats where 
the hogs got corn alone or corn and tankage. 

The results secured with the duplicate lots each year were rela- 
tively uniform. In no case were the gains cheaper or the quantity 
of corn required for 100 pounds of gain less in the corn lot than in 
the tankage lot, and in only one tankage lot were they cheaper than 
any pasture lot. One tankage lot in 1915, however, made slower 
gains than either of the pasture lots and slower than one of the corn 
lots; and one corn lot made faster gains than one of the pasture lots. 
With this exception, the results of the duplicate lots were relatively 
the same. In 1915 the hogs required more corn per 100 pounds of 
gain than was required in 1914. This was probably due to the 
poorer quality of the corn in 1915. The corn that was added to the 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OF HOGS. % 

plats in 1915 had also been badly damaged by hail. As the results 
from the 1914 experiment were almost identical with those of the 
1915 experiment, only the 2-year average will be discussed here. 

Corn alone.— -The corn hogged by the four lots receiving no sup- 
plementary feed was estimated as the equivalent of 1,091 pounds of 
shelled corn, and the equivalent of 209 pounds of shelled corn was 
added, making a total of 1,300 pounds of corn consumed. These lots 
made an average gain of 218 pounds. For each 100 pounds of gain 
they consumed 524 pounds of corn, valued at $5.61. 

Com plus alfalfa pasture. — At the time of year when corn is 
hogged alfalfa makes slow growth. Before the experiment closed, 
the alfalfa was furnishing but little feed. The hogs receiving 
alfalfa as a supplementary ration had access to about the same area 
of alfalfa pasture as was occupied by the corn plat. They were 
charged at the rate of $1 an acre for the use of the alfalfa pasture 
after the last cutting. The lots made a total gain of 310 pounds. 
It was estimated that they hogged 1,163 pounds, and 220 pounds 
were added to the plat, making an equivalent of 1,3-83 pounds of 
shelled corn consumed. It required 446 pounds of corn, supple- 
mented by alfalfa pasture, to make 100 pounds of gain, which 
cost $4.88. 

Corn and tankage. — The lot on corn and tankage made 343 pounds 
of gain. It was estimated that the corn plat yielded 1,038 pounds, 
and 349 pounds of corn were added, making a total of 1,387 pounds 
consumed. In addition to the corn, the lot was fed 100 pounds of 
tankage. The tankage cost $3.20 per hundredweight, delivered at 
Mitchell, Nebr., in 500-pound lots. For each 100 pounds of gain 
made, the hogs ate 405 pounds of corn and 29 pounds of tankage. 
The gains cost $5.26 per 100 pounds. 

A summary of the two years' results of these experiments, calcu- 
lated to an acre basis, is given in Table IX. 



Table IX. — Results of hogging com. with supplementary feed, at the Scotts- 
blujf Experiment Farm in 1914 <md 1915. 



Hems of comparison. 



Number of lots 

Number of hogs per acre in each test 

Number of days 

Average initial weight per hog pounds. 

Average final weight per hog do. . . 

Average daily gain per hog do. . . 

Total gam per acre do. . . 

Corn consumed (estimated yield plus corn added) do. . . 

Financial statement : 

Value of gains (at 7 cents per pound) , 

Cost of tankage (300 pounds, at 83.20) 

Charged for alfalfa pasture. 

Net returns per 100 pounds of corn 

Cost per 100 pounds of gain (corn $1.07) ' 



Corn 
only. 



Corn and 

alfalfa 
pasture. 



4 

9 

66 

81.7 

164.4 

1.25 

744 

3,900 



S52. 08 



1.34 
5.61 



66 

81.7 

185.0 

1. 57 

930 

4,149 



$65. 10 



1.00 
1.55 

4. 88 



Corn and 
tankage. 



66 

S1.0 

195.3 

1.73 

1,029 

4,161 



72.03 
9.60 



1.50 
5.26 



l 24 BULLETIN 488, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

The data given in Table IX are the averages of four lots in each 
case and are calculated to an acre basis. The hogs were on the experi- 
ment 77 days in 1914 and 55 days in 1915, or an average for the two 
seasons of 66 days. The average initial weight of the shotes in the 
different lots was 81 pounds, and the average final weight was 164.4 
pounds for the corn-alone lot, 185 pounds for the pasture lot, and 
195.3 pounds for the tankage lot, or 1.25, 1.57, and 1.73 pounds of 
daily gains, respectively. The tankage lot made 38 per cent faster 
gains than the corn-alone lot and 10 per cent faster than the pasture 
lot. The total gain, on an acre basis, was 744 pounds where the hogs 
received only corn, 930 pounds where they had access to alfalfa pas- 
ture, and 1,029 pounds when fed 300 pounds of tankage in connection 
with the corn. The net return per 100 pounds of corn consumed was 
1 $1.34 where corn was fed alone, $1.55 where the hogs had access to 
alfalfa pasture, and $1.50 when they were fed tankage. A 100-pound 
gain cost $5.61 in the corn lot, $4.88 in the pasture lot, and $5.26 in 
the tankage lot. 

From the results of these tests it appears that it would be better 
to buy tankage at $3.20 per hundredweight and feed it to hogs in 
connection with hogged-off corn than not to supplement the corn, 
but when the hogs can have access to alfalfa pasture it is doubtful 
whether it would pay to feed tankage. 

The chief advantage of hogging corn is that the farmer is spared 
the expense of harvesting the crop, hauling the manure back to the 
land, and feeding the corn to the hogs. A disadvantage is the cost 
of fencing. It seems certain that hogs will make as many pounds of 
gain from a bushel of corn in the field as they will if the corn is har- 
vested and fed in a dry lot. The question for the farmer to decide, 
then, is whether it is cheaper to harvest the crop and feed the hogs 
in a dry lot or to fence the corn and let the hogs themselves harvest it. 

SUMMARY. 

Because of the relatively small capital and short time required to 
get a start in the swine industry and because of the high efficiency 
of hogs in utilizing certain field crops, swine production is a specially 
promising industry for irrigation farmers. In order to secure infor- 
mation regarding methods of utilizing hogs in the disposal of certain 
field crops produced on irrigated lands, experiments were conducted 
at the Scottsbluff Experiment Farm on the North Platte Keclamation 
Project in 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1915. 

In three years' experiments, including eight lots of hogs, in which 
alfalfa pasture was supplemented with a 2 per cent ration of corn, 
an average gain of 3,181 pounds per season was made from an acre 
of alfalfa pasture and 7,844 pounds of corn. It required an average 



DISPOSAL OF IRRIGATED CROPS THROUGH THE USE OP HOGS. 25 

of 2.47 pounds of corn in addition to alfalfa pasture to produce 
1 pound of pork. If the gains are valued at 7 cents a pound and corn 
at 60 cents a bushel, or $1.07 a hundredweight, the average annual 
return was $138.75 per acre of alfalfa pasture. If the corn fed is 
valued at 60 cents a bushel and the alfalfa pasture at $15 an acre 
the average cost of 100 pounds of gain was $3.11. If the average 
yield of the alfalfa plats in the same field is assumed to represent 
the yield of the pastured plats the hogs paid an equivalent of $25.13 
per ton of hay. 

In two years' experiments with alfalfa pasture, with and without 
supplemental feed, an average annual return of $45.08 per acre was 
secured where no supplement was used, as compared with $70.20 
where a 1 per cent ration of corn was used — $128.49 from a 2 per cent 
ration of corn — $121.96 from a 2 per cent ration of barley, and 
$168.25 from a 3 per cent ration of corn. The rate of gain and the 
carrying capacity of the pasture increased with the quantity of 
grain fed. Ground barley appeared to be as good, pound for pound, 
as shelled corn as a feed for hogs on alfalfa pasture. 

Sows and pigs on alfalfa pasture, with a 2 per cent ration of grain, 
made an average gain of 1,574 pounds per acre of alfalfa pasture 
from May 1 to J,uly 1, or a net return of $66.84 per acre. When 
corn was used the return varied from $54.11 to $69.97 per acre, and 
when barley was used the return was $77.76 per acre. 

In three years' experiments, hogging corn without supplementary 
feed produced an average of 896 pounds of gain, worth $65.72 per 
acre, or $1.50 per hundredweight of the estimated yield of corn. 

In two years' experiments, hogging corn without supplementary 
feed produced an average of 744 pounds of gain, worth $52.08 per 
acre, as compared with 930 pounds of gain, worth $65.10, where the 
hogs had access to alfalfa pasture, and 1,029 pounds of gain, worth 
$72.03, where the hogs were fed tankage in addition to the corn. 
Where no supplementary feed was used the hogs paid $1.34 per, hun- 
dredweight for the estimated yield of corn, as compared with $1.55 
per hundredweight where the hogs had access to alfalfa pasture and 
$1.50 per hundredweight where tankage was used. The use of either 
alfalfa or tankage resulted in more rapid and cheaper gains than 
were secured where no supplementary feed was used. 



PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRI- 
CULTURE RELATING TO IRRIGATION. 

AVAILABLE FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION. 

Profits in Farming on Irrigated Areas in Utah Lake Valley. (Department Bul- 
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Experiments with Crops under Fall Irrigation at the Scottsbluff Reclamation 
Project Experiment Farm. (Department Bulletin 133.) 

Experiments in the Production of Crops on Alkali Land on the Huntley Recla- 
mation Project, Montana. (Department Bulletin 135.) 

Establishing the Swine Industry on the North Platte Reclamation Project. 
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Irrigated Pastures for Northern Reclamation Projects. (D. R. P. 2.) 

Sugar-Beet Growing Under Irrigation. (Farmers' Bulletin 567.) 

The Work of the Huntley Reclamation Project Experiment Farm in 11)15. (W. 
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The Work of the Belle Fourche Reclamation Project Experiment Farm in 1915. 
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The Work of the Scottsbluff Reclamation Project Experiment Farm in 1915. 
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The Work of the Yuma Reclamation Project Experiment Farm in 1915. (W. I. 
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The Work of the Truckee-Carson Reclamation Project Experiment Farm in 
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The Settlement of Irrigated Lands. (Yearbook Separate 608.) 

Agriculture on Government Reclamation Projects. (Yearbook Separate 690.) 

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Potato Culture on Irrigated Farms of the West. (Farmers' Bulletin 3S6.) 
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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO IRRIGATION. 27 

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